Riverside County

Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

Veterans advisory council chair hails from Northern Agency

July 11--FARMINGTON -- The commander of the Upper Fruitland Veterans Organization is adding the position of chair for the Navajo Nation Veterans Advisory Council to her leadership role.

Candice Pioche-Zunie, a U.S. Air Force veteran who also serves as commander for the Northern Agency Veterans Organization, was selected last week and has been on the agency council since April 2017.

"I'm very surprised but also honored that my fellow members on the council selected me," she said.

The Navajo Nation Veterans Advisory Council was established under the executive branch as part of the Navajo Nation Veterans Act in 2016.

Its purpose is to provide policy advice to the tribal president regarding veterans issues and concerns.

As chair, Pioche-Zunie will be responsible for managing the agency council, enforcing its policies and procedures, reaching out to state and local entities, sharing information with veterans, attending veterans meetings, and working with the tribal President's Office.

The advisory council's membership consists of five women and five men, each serving as commanders of the agency veterans organizations, and the executive director of the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration.